Environmental Packaging Policies in the United States - Term Paper Example

Environmental Packaging Policies in USA Introduction: The trend of packaging is increasing with time. It is just not a way to promote products and attract consumers; but, it has a key impact on the security of each product. Without packaging; material handling could be messy, and the concept of modern marketing would not be achievable but mostly it ends-up as litter. However, due to the shortage of resources, recycling of such waste is being focused and organizations are trying to extract economic worth from discarded material. Packaging cannot be considered without considering its impact on the environment. Different organizations are taking major steps for reducing the environmental footprint. This thinking is beneficial for the environment and reduces the end cost of the product too. Companies are eager to reduce their waste and landfilling (http://www.unilever.com). Developed countries like USA present 2% of gross national products of packaging and half of this packaging material are used to manage food items. Therefore, if can be said that Packaging of food items is most critical and has larger manufacturing (Robertson, 2013). Therefore, food packaging laws are being discussed in this report. As packaging waste was being considered as an environmental menace and due to the increasing environmental concerns all organizations around the globe, prefer to be green and enthusiastic to claim their selves as environmental friendly business. However, by watching these requirements and for excellent management of packaging activities it had become essential to develop some policies that can limit manufactures and can save the earth from the hazardous situation. Packaging Policies in United States of America USA Policies that have been designed regarding environmental packaging includes regulation of design requirements such as recycling material, environmental labeling, heavy metals are not allowed to use, and packaging fees. Other factors that have influence on the packaging design are the customer’s requirements, market requirements and consumers, NGO and shareholders’ activity (Ackerman, 1997). Packaging Regulations of North America Heavy Metals: Four major metals that are restricted to use by the USA government in packaging are lead, hexavalent chromium, mercury, and cadmium. If these metals are used, then the sum of application level should not exceed more than 100 ppm. Even the incidental existence of these metals has been limited. If the manufacturer does any violation of the law, he must face penalties that are amounted in the range of $25000 (Qorpak, 2014). Packages that are considered as subject to the law are those collectable packages, which contain products. However, if the empty bag or a container is being sold such as a cup of coffee or a pitcher for home use will not be subject to law because it is a product itself. Packaging in which solder is used and that contain lead has no exemption. The USA government expels the use of endocrine modulators (hazardous chemicals) from all food packaging that can impair the hormones system and can cause to widen birth defects, cancer, and obesity (Qorpak, 2014). Law Of Recycling Content RPPC Law: This RPPC law was introduced in 1991, and the purpose of this act was to reduce the plastic litter in order to reduce the waste disposed in the landfill of California and to encourage the recycling. There are some products that are exempted from this compliance are medical devices, baby formulas, foods, drugs, cosmetics, material that is hazardous and part of transportation regulation of US department. Those producers who cannot meet the terms and those who do not supply information to producer have to face penalties imposed by CalRecycle (2013). RPPC law offers multiple options of compliance that helps producers to meet the requirements in diverse ways. Each option has its own requirements that are necessary to meet for manufacturers. For example, plastic must be able to contain five gallon and eight liquid ounce, no other material should be used in packaging except cap, label and cover. It must be made-up of twenty-five percent of consumer used material, must be decreased and concentrated by ten percent; it must be refilled by five times. RPPC has a combination of reduced container weigh; product concentration in such combination container weight should be lower, and product concentration should be increased. If the product is compared to another manufacturer that has similar material, type and shape the weight must be ten percent lower than that product. The recycling rate of RPPC must be 25%. The RPPC must have floral chemical addition that can be consumed for two years by this industry (CalRecycle, 2013). ORPC LAW: This law is border than RPPC and includes parcels or packages that contain, protect, store, display, sell, and transport items and ability to carry eight ounce to five-gallon material. Oregon rigid Plastic Container law (ORPCL) incorporates things such as clamshell, bottles, tabs, cookie’s trays, and plastic pots that carry flowers. Everything will be with the fulfillment of law if the recycling rate is above 25%. Companies are warned by the government, to follow the required rate of recycling because, in 2005, great decrease in the recovery rate of rigid plastic containers, was encountered (DEQ, 2008). New Jersey Rigid Plastic Container Law: New Jersey just not has rigid plastic container law, but it also comes in those manufacturers who have strict laws against the use of heavy metal (Keller and Heckman, 2002). The SB 556 bill was presented as a substitute of March 6, 2006 bill. NJRPC law applies to the containers that have a volume of eight ounce to six and half gallon and made-up of plastic. Containers that contain hazardous substances, food, infant formulas, cosmetic material, medical devices, drugs, beverages, and personal care products are exempted from this law. Manufacturer of products and packaging were compelled to comply with the bill and required to have certification from the environmental protection department of New Jersey for the compliance of recycled content. Both packaging and product manufacturer are liable to fill the annual compliance certificate with New Jersey on February 1 of every year. The recycling rates of different materials in United States of America are as following: Lead- add batteries’ recycling rate is 95.5% that mean lead manufacturers must use 95.5% recycled material in their manufacturing, recycling rate of steel cans is 70.8%. Newspaper and mechanical papers recycling rate is up to 70%, yard-trimming rate of recycling is 57.7%. Aluminum beer and soda cans recycling rate, defined by USA packaging policies, is 54.6%. Glass container’s manufacturers must use 34.1% recycled material in their packaging. PET bottles and jars have 30.8% recycled rate, and selected consumer electronic rate of recycling is 29.2%. All these rates are fixed, and manufacturing of packaging by following these rates will be environment friendly because recycled items consumes less energy as compared to the items that are freshly made (EPA, 2012). FTC Requirements for Labeling Green packaging is increasing rapidly at a global level and giant organizations are developing their standards to be environmental friendly. Therefore, Federal trade commission that works to protect American consumers has presented some requirements of labeling in order to keep away from allegations of deceptive and unfair practices and companies that are marketing their products as green must be known and meet these requirements. Basic principles include (Misko, 2013): The claim should meet the criteria, language should be specific, and there must not be any deceptive implications. For example: Bottle is recyclable (Not Acceptable). This bottle can be recycled in 25% communities of USA (Acceptable). There must be the seal approval or certification approval from third party and difference between product, and packaging should be mentioned. There must be carbon reduction if it does not occur in two years claim of environment friendly product may not be made. A product must not contain a toxic amount that is harmful for humans and the environment. The amount of the package should be 60% recyclable to a substantial majority of communities. By following, all these restrictions mentioned above organizations are striving to be green. These environmental regulations are designed to increase the environmental sustainability, which includes air water, humans, and animals in other words, to reduce the environmental packaging impact. In order to be competitive and to increase the trade in USA, companies must have an idea of these laws. These environmental packaging policies reduce the resources usage, pollution and increase the waste management. The aim of these regulations is not to penalize manufacturers, but it encourages the reduction of packaging and environmental cost. These laws are helpful for organizations in a way that these encourage manufacturers towards innovation (DEQ, n.d.). For example, Sixty-eight percent recycled content aluminum cans have. That can save the energy because twenty cans can be recycled in the energy of making one can. Therefore, recycling of aluminum cans gives organizations opportunity to lower the product cost and waste management. Glass packaging manufacturers can have up to 70% of recycled content. Time that is required to put the glass from the recycling process to the store shelf is maximum 30 days. Recycling on glass means to save energy equal to 100 watt that can light up a bulb for 4 hours. A paper container can have 31% of recycled content. Recycling of paper takes 40% less energy than original paper manufacturing. Recycling means less air and water pollution. In United States, steel manufacturers use up to 70% of recycled steel, and it can reduce 60 to 74 percent energy than the steel made from raw material (KAB, 2013). Many big organizations are taking benefit from complying environmental packaging policies, which include Nestle, CocaCola, Colgate, Procter & Gamble, Kellogg, and Tetra Pack Inc. In United States, $150 billion containers of beverage are sold on an annual basis that cause to emit toxic in the process of manufacturing (Ackerman, 1997); however, by following these packaging policies the production of poisons can be reduced. In the beverage industry, the example of Coca Cola can be taken as environmentally efficient company. Coca Cola uses least natural resources in its packaging. Through the light weighting program in last two years, company saved $180 million. Company reduced more than 25% weight of its 20-ounce plastic bottle, Cut-off the weight from 12-ounce aluminum can up to 30%, and shaved more than 50% from 8-ounce glass bottle. These lightweight bottles are easy to recycle, can be twisted when empty; therefore, save energy and money that is required for transportation (Coca Cola, 2013). This light weighting process of packaging reduces the landfilling, which is beneficial for the environment and comply the USA environment packaging policies. In 2012, Coca Cola achieved the target to reduce 9.45% less energy in its operational processes as compare to 2007 and the company is consistent with best carbon management practices (Coca Cola, 2013). According to recent studies, the output of goods is growing faster than packaging in United and this reduction is a result of light weighted packaging material, not in the reduction of goods that are being packed. If these environmental packaging policies are not followed, then packaging will result in excess cost, extra use of resources, and increased litter. People spend many dollars to visit waste free parks and places. Litter cause to increase ugliness, glass litter can cause to injured children, farm animals and can damage tires. Beyond all these disadvantages, waste can be hazardous for human health. Therefore, USA is planning to open a new environment packaging organization that will be liable to disclose public policies that are affecting packaging value chain. This organization will educate packaging and raw material producers, packaging fillers, retailers, users, and recovery organizations and will characterize the interest of their field (WPO, n.d.). Conclusion: This paper is based on the discussion of environmental packaging policies present in Unites States. In developed countries like USA packaging presents 2% of gross national products and half of the packaging belong to food items. Therefore, environmental packaging policies regarding food items, which also include beverages, have been discussed. Environmental sustainability is a growing concern that has gigantic impact on packaging operations. Therefore, policies have been designed and continuously being improving through which organizations can be able to manage waste efficiently. Due to these policies, packaging manufacturers are pressurized to develop such packaging styles that can ensure safe, healthy, and quick to consume products. Improved packaging prevents spoilage, product tampering and mislabeling. New packaging of existing products fulfills the demands of customers to have healthy and smaller portion. Improved environmental friendly packaging processes increase the product value because a quality pack with innovation and competitive market price has a priority on other products. Environmentally sustainable packaging has far-reaching benefits for businesses. Manufacturers having sustainable packaging practices have the advantage to offer increased competitive price, and they can own greater demand. Manufacturers by switching to compostable and recycling packaging practices can insert real value in their businesses by reducing energy and cost. It has been proved that companies that are committed to giving back to the global community are booming while others are surviving to maintain their goodwill. References: Ackerman, F (1997). Environmental Impacts Of Packaging In The U.S. And Mexico. PHIL & TECH, 2(2). Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/SPT/v2_n2pdf/ackerman.pdf CalRecycle. (2013). RIGID plastic packaging container (RPPC) Program. (2013). Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/plastics/rppc/Enforcement/Compliance.htm Coca Cola. (2013). Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report. (2013). Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://ceowatermandate.org/files/endorsing/CCE_2013.pdf DEQ. (2008). Oregon rigid plastic container. Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/sw/RPCRate20062008.pdf DEQ. (n.d.). International packaging regulations. (2005). Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/sw/packaging/intlpkgregulations.pdf EPA. (2012). Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/2012_msw_fs.pdf KAB. (2013). Recycling Facts & Stats Recycling In General. Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=recycling_facts_and_stats Keller and Heckman (2002). Packaging and Environmental Legislation in the United States: An Overview. Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://www.packaginglaw.com/2561_.shtml Misko, G. G (2013). Global Regulatory Considerations for Green Packaging. Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/magazine-archive1/aprilmay-2013/global-regulatory-considerations-for-green-packaging/ Qorpak. (2014). Federal Packaging Regulations in the US. (2014). Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://www.qorpak.com/packaging-regulations-united-states.aspx Robertson, L. G (2013). Food Packaging: Principles and Practice (3rd ed). United states of America: CRC Press. WPO. (n.d.). Position Paper Packaging – An Important Tool for A Sustainable Society. Retrieved June 9, 2014, from https://www.google.com.pk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldpackaging.org%2Fi4a%2Fdoclibrary%2Fgetfile.cfm%3Fdoc_id%3D1&ei=YWKYU5DlIaXb0QXzuIEo&usg=AFQjCNGPH3uWa0iXo33xjErQKINLRuz17w&sig2=RnnqEbFDgHIOYlgUQ7KC8g&bvm=bv.68693194,d.d2k Appendix Recycling rate of different products in USA Source: EPA (2012) Read More